BBD's Fruitless Hustle (revisited)

[Redz]

I am really torn on Big Baby right now.  I love that he is the one guy consistently busting his tail - especially on the offensive glass, but his failure to convert the results of his energy into something productive (ie: a bucket) is more often the rule than the exception.

I think it's vital that the C's have a guy who is maniacally determined get at the ball off the offensive glass, so I'm ready to give him a bit of a pass on getting his putbacks put back in his face, but sheesh, at what point are the pluses negated by the lack of results.

Getting those extra possessions is huge, I just wish Baby would kick it back out every now and then.  Let's use all that energy for something good.

I also wish a few more Celts would follow his lead and attack the glass.  Baby's not the biggest guy on the court, but a little position, and a lot of determination go a long way in rebounding.

Keep getting the offensive boards Baby! Just make sure we get some points off of them too.

[More Banners]

I am really torn on Big Baby right now.  I love that he is the one guy consistently busting his tail - especially on the offensive glass, but his failure to convert the results of his energy into something productive (ie: a bucket) is more often the rule than the exception.

I think it's vital that the C's have a guy who is maniacally determined get at the ball off the offensive glass, so I'm ready to give him a bit of a pass on getting his putbacks put back in his face, but sheesh, at what point do the pluses outweigh the lack of results.

Getting those extra possessions is huge, I just wish baby would kick it back out every now and then.  Let's use all that energy for something good.

I also wish a few more Celts would follow his lead and attack the glass.  Baby's not the biggest guy on the court, but a little position, and a lot of determination go a long way in rebounding.

Keep getting the offensive boards Baby! Just make sure we get some points off of them too.

I agree completely.  It was painful to watch him get an OR last night, only to go 1-on-4 against bigger, longer, more athletic players (as if going 1-on-4 isn't bad enough).  The OR was a total hustle play, but, in the end, didn't help us.

Perhaps a coach or veteran teammate could offer some suggestions?

Ah, never mind...

[gar]

There is a reason he slipped in the draft and is hard to see how he can be effective unless he can finish more consistently.

[Redz]

Maybe we should stick him back on the perimeter and let him take those jumpers like he did last year.

[EJPLAYA]

I am really torn on Big Baby right now.  I love that he is the one guy consistently busting his tail - especially on the offensive glass, but his failure to convert the results of his energy into something productive (ie: a bucket) is more often the rule than the exception.

I think it's vital that the C's have a guy who is maniacally determined get at the ball off the offensive glass, so I'm ready to give him a bit of a pass on getting his putbacks put back in his face, but sheesh, at what point are the pluses negated by the lack of results.

Getting those extra possessions is huge, I just wish Baby would kick it back out every now and then.  Let's use all that energy for something good.

I also wish a few more Celts would follow his lead and attack the glass.  Baby's not the biggest guy on the court, but a little position, and a lot of determination go a long way in rebounding.

Keep getting the offensive boards Baby! Just make sure we get some points off of them too.

Very well said. There was no question the guy was fighting hard last night trying to rebound. The problem was once he got the board he stubbornly forced himself into a blocked shot! Is it possible that he is as thick headed as TA is?!

I don't buy that Shelden wouldn't have either got himself to the foul or passed the ball back out. I think he is at least smart enough to realize the best thing he can do it pass it out and reset.

Kind of like BBD's play where he went crashing into the stands. Looks great and all but he proceeded to take 15 seconds to get back on the court and then get the ball at the top and get his jumper blocked. Eye candy but no results. That's all he is...

[Who]

I would love to know how many points per possession the Celtics score from Glen Davis' offensive rebounds.

[Redz]

I would love to know how many points per possession the Celtics score from Glen Davis' offensive rebounds.

Or what percentage of those get swatted. It really is uncanny.

[Bahku]

Just don't see "hustle" as EVER being fruitless ... even if he wasn't scoring and rebounding, (averaging around 4 RBPG and 6 PPG), the change of energy that he brings to the game goes beyond quantifying. The sad fact is that our starters have been luke-warm of late, and they need a kick in the butt once-in-a-while. Big Baby provides that change in tempo and momentum and his activity under the basket alone makes him worthwhile on the court, because whether he's producing big numbers or not, the opponent has to deal with his presence, and it can be formiddable. Does he make immature mistakes? Absolutely! But every member of this team does likewise at times, and he is far from our turnover leader. I'd rather have five guys that "hustle" anyday than a lazy "superstar" or vet like Sheed, who can't even get his hands up on defense. No, hustle is never fruitless, and I really like Glen's energy and hard work.

[Bahku]

I find it a bit odd that there's a negative BBD thread following a game where KG didn't even get a field-goal. How many shots did Garnet get blocked last night? Certainly as many as Glen. What positives did Sheed or Marquis or TA or the rest of the bench bring? Not much, and yet we're talknig about how BBD's "hustle" is a bad thing? Sorry ... don't get it. At times last night, the only two players doing ANYTHING were Glen and Ray, and despite the negativity about him, "hustle" and positive enrgy is contagious, and it was the ONE thing most lacking last night that BBD brought back to the game. (Of course that's in my very humble and irrelevant opinion. )

[Onslaught]

I find it a bit odd that there's a negative BBD thread following a game where KG didn't even get a field-goal. How many shots did Garnet get blocked last night? Certainly as many as Glen. What positives did Sheed or Marquis or TA or the rest of the bench bring? Not much, and yet we're talknig about how BBD's "hustle" is a bad thing? Sorry ... don't get it. At times last night, the only two players doing ANYTHING were Glen and Ray, and despite the negativity about him, "hustle" and positive enrgy is contagious, and it was the ONE thing most lacking last night that BBD brought back to the game. (Of course that's in my very humble and irrelevant opinion. )

Well it's not just one game. All those other guys have off nights and on nights. Baby's been getting his stuff sent for weeks now.

[Redz]

I find it a bit odd that there's a negative BBD thread following a game where KG didn't even get a field-goal. How many shots did Garnet get blocked last night? Certainly as many as Glen. What positives did Sheed or Marquis or TA or the rest of the bench bring? Not much, and yet we're talknig about how BBD's "hustle" is a bad thing? Sorry ... don't get it. At times last night, the only two players doing ANYTHING were Glen and Ray, and despite the negativity about him, "hustle" and positive enrgy is contagious, and it was the ONE thing most lacking last night that BBD brought back to the game. (Of course that's in my very humble and irrelevant opinion. )

The two aren't mutually exclusive. 

I don't know if you got the proper gist of my post.  I am not knocking Baby for his hustle (I said as much several times), I just would like that hustle to equate to something more productive, more frequently.

I also wish a few more Celts would follow his lead and attack the glass.  Baby's not the biggest guy on the court, but a little position, and a lot of determination go a long way in rebounding.

[FatjohnReturns]

Well he had enough hustle to make the NBA's top ten plays for sunday. #9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr_HDNHsbTk

[Neurotic Guy]

It seems that Glen needs to make an adjustment.  An adjustment is something that someone can do who has ability but has to learn new ways to maximize the impact of his ability.  Look at Perk's growth curve -- not long ago how many were complaining about him always losing the ball in the paint.  It's about maximizing ability AND learning as you go.  

Fortunately, Glen is able to do the toughest part -- work hard, hustle, get the ball amidst the giants.  The rest is learning how to draw the foul or get the ball safely out of harm's way -- dribling or passing.  If Glen scores the hoop -- gravy.  This is learnable.  He'll get there. And I think he can get there soon.

[jambr380]

I don't see this as a Big Baby bashing thread, just a small frustration. It's almost as if he has regressed on his inside game. After learning to shoot the jumper last year, he has forgotten his cute up and under moves from his rookie season. It is great to see the hustle, but there needs to be a slight adjustment.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Yes, his offensive rebounds have largely been due to hustle.  However, I've been saying for a long time now that his appearance is one of supreme hustle, when in reality its compensating for his lack of basketball skills.  Like Scalabrine who dives for a ball that others could merely walk over and pick up, Davis will trip over his own feet, fall down, jump after the ball, and maybe save it.  The outcome for another player would have been to pick the ball up. 

So I ask you, is he really hustling?  Wouldn't a hustler lose some weight and keep it off?  Wouldn't a hustler work on some sort of jumping ability? 

He's done fine for where he was picked in the draft.  He's done fine for what he gets paid.  Stop expecting more from him.  On a championship roster a player like Davis should be averaging 8 minutes a game.